The SH5 sounds great..

[Hank-]

..in my LP copy, also have it paired with a 59n.

Prior to that I had a SuperD in there, that one was good too. The Sh5(Custom) is actually a C5 p'up that I swaped a ceramic mag into. Output wise it mixes very nicely with the 59, even tone wise its a good transition from neck to bridge. Its not as gainy or loud as a SuperD at same height but decent enough. Neither the SuperD or SH5 are phenomenal at picking dynamics, the SH5 has less mids, stronger bass & highs and sounds clearer from less output too, I do find it overall to breathe better than the Super & touch better dynamics. The SH5 does rock & beyond genres extremely well, not a big fan for completely clean sounds, overdriven sounds are fine as well though.

I haven't found the 59n muddy in this guitar, just big or fat sounding, quite nice dynamics. Got lucky here I guess.
The temptation to swap a A5 in the Custom to make it Sh14 again is strong but... I'm fighting hard, trying to resist lol
I didn't like the SH5 before in my other guitars, its settled well in this guitar though.

In short, the SH5 in LP = :bigok: for rock+

Edit: wrong emoticon in the thread title lol

 

[blueman335]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

Another PU that I like best with an UOA5.

 

[chris effect]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

I'm strongly considering putting an alnico 8 in my sh-14. I'm looking for a little more output, a little more mids.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

The Custom Or SH5 preceded the Custom Custom and the Custom Five.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

The Custom is my favorite for LP type guitars. It just growls!

 

[BRHGM]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

I like the 59n too. It is sickly sweet in my Hamer Standard, an explorer type guitar that’s heavier than any Les Paul I have ever played.

 

[Starman]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

The SH-5 in a Les Paul is just amazing. I cannot say enough good things about it in the bridge.

 

[Hank-]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

I thought I had one UOA5 mag around salvaged from a stock p'up but I'm pretty sure now that the set had a2 mags with difference in charge.

Still, so far I've had more success with sh11 than the sh14. The SH5 however sounds permanently at home in this guitar. Now I'll need to grab another Custom series pickup since so far I only had one that got mag swapped into other versions. Must have the sh11 back in my arsenal. The sh14, not so much, possibly never since there are other a5 p'ups wound in a way I'd like more.

 

[EmiAba]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

The custom is my fav bridge pickup. It sounds great. No way. Swapping mags could give it different flavours but the overall quality of the pickup does not be affected. Ceramic, A2, A8 or whatever are only a matter of taste and obviously it depends on the tone of the guitar you want to load with. I heard strat like guitars singing with a custom custom in them (it is too dark in a les paul IMO) or les pauls with a regular custom or a custom8 being a perfect rock machine. The version I prefer the worst is the A5. Too midscooped for my ears. I guess the custom will never go out from my guitars. There is only one pickup could make me force to try a different sound. And it is the black winter bridge. A really underrated pickup. The SD i simply different. They sound different

 

[Aceman]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

Hey Blueman, I have heard that you think this pickup is great for metal and thrash. Which of these would you suggest that combination is best for? And would you still use it for those with that UOA5??????? Which would the ceramic be best for vs the UAO5?

Like which albums from these:

Metallica; RTL, MOP, AJFT, Black, Load/reload, Deth Magnetic, etc....
MegaDave; So Far So good, Peace Sells, Rust In Peace Countdown, Trust
Anthrax; Among The Living, Spreading the Disease, Persistence of Time, White Noise

Or which Bands?

Overkill
Slayer
Nuclear Assault
Merciful Fate
Pantera

Or even which of these hard rockers would say the Jazz is best for: Maiden, Priest, Scorpios, Dio, Ozzy (Rhoads), Ozzy (Jake), Ozzy (Wylde), Crue, Skid Row, GnR

 

[STLMTLHD79]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

I am going to put an old MJ wound white bobbin SH-5 into my les paul custom to replace the Gibson 500T i put in over 20 years ago. I am also going to change the stock volume pot to a 500k.

Also, for any of you that are into metal, Ola England swears by the SH-14. If you listen to the new Haunted album, the guitar tone is killer and you can tell its SH-14-very scooped.

I would like to do a mag swap on my SH-14 and try an Alnico 8.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

I've tried most of the SH5 variants, and honestly my favorite is simply the stock SH5. Such a great, versatile pick up.

 

[Hank-]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

Well I gave into the temptation & swapped mags around to see what the variants actually sound like in a LP style guitar. Gotta say, you guys know the sound clips that are available on the products page for the SH5,SH11 & SH14? They are all quite accurate in giving you a example of how each of these varies from each other. I still don't like the sh14 although its a good match for a 59n, the sh11 was okayish but a bad match with the 59n switching back & forth if your looking for smoother tonal shift.

My favourite is still the SH5 from the production models for a LP in terms of versatility. Its a little stiff feeling for cleans & verge of breakup sounds. The high end can give palm mutes a "clank" kind of sound. If you are part of a band with more than one guitarist & the other guitar players have a different pickup than this, you can bet for sure that people will atleast be able to tell your guitar sound apart from the mix.

Overall I think its more suited for rhythm playing than lead but not necessarily, as long as you like its sound then it shouldn't be an issue. I fouund a comparison vid for it that I liked. Although I disliked the sound of the SH5 the most in it & preferred the sh14 instead lol
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KbRlcdNHYDM

 

[Mincer]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

Yes, the regular SH5 is my favorite in a regular LP. I don't tend to like it in much else, but it works so well with the LP's woods and weight. I'll use the other Custom variants in other guitars, though.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: The SH5 sounds great..

UOA5 magnet in the Custom is great! Not sure why I like it better than a regular A5 but there is just a little complex thing going on that makes it sound a little sweeter and fuller. I used it for a long time in an Epi LP and now its the perfect pickup in my PRS SE Custom 22.
I recommend the 59n with an A2 to tame the boomyness and sweeten/soften it up a little.
This is my fav pickup combo in any LP type guitar.